Beet Carpaccio

Description:

Here, multicolored beets are presented carpaccio-style (paper-thin slices) with a sprinkling of crumbled blue cheese. Once hard to find, beautiful varieties of beets, such as pink-and-white-striped ‘Chioggia,’ electric-yellow ‘Golden Detroit’ and ruby-red ‘Moneta,’ are more readily available. Seek them out at farmers’ markets or supermarkets that stock local, in-season produce.

Ingredients:

3 medium beets, (about 1 pound), such as red, golden and/or Chioggia

12 1/2-inch-thick slices baguette, preferably whole-grain

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese, at room temperature

1 teaspoon chopped fresh herbs, such as dill, savory or tarragon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1

Place beets in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover by at least 2 inches. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until a fork inserted into a beet comes out with little resistance, about 40 minutes. (Overcooking will make the beets more difficult to thinly slice.) Drain and let stand until cool enough to handle.

2

While the beets cool, brush baguette slices with 2 teaspoons oil. To toast, preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet and bake, turning once halfway through, until toasted but not browned, about 14 minutes. (Alternatively, grill the bread over medium heat, turning once, until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes.)

3

Trim both ends of the beets and rub off the skins with your fingers. Slice as thinly as possible, using a mandoline or sharp knife. Arrange the beet slices on a large platter or on 6 salad plates. Sprinkle blue cheese, herbs, salt and pepper over the beets and drizzle with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil. Serve with the toasted baguette.